Page 23 of Stolen Fire (N.O.A.H (Nostradamus Outerspace Advancement of Humanity) #2)

“What do you know?” Cifer followed the spy down the hall. She’d given him tips in the past that had worked out but had never come to his rooms—shouldn’t even know where they were.

Cifer focused on her lips to make sure he heard her clearly. Some words came through—mostly. Others were more challenging. “How long?”

“Hour. I pinged you.”

He glanced at his data pad and noted the missed messages.

He considered sending something to Blaize, but involving her in his business would only put her in danger.

If anyone became aware of how much he cared about her…

He hated the tug of duty and desire. Had avoided it with casual connections.

But there was nothing casual about how he felt about Blaize.

He’d been so deep with her, he’d almost shown her his true form.

She’d understand why he left once he explained.

She cared about the lost kids too. The stolen, the sold, the abandoned. “How many kids? Any idea how old?”

“I counted five. Young. Maybe as old as ten? I’m not sure. But they all look different from each other, and they’re in a cage.”

At the word cage, Cifer saw red. He’d spent galactic years being locked up.

Bastards had either stolen or purchased the young, both of which were against the Galaxian law.

Not that those fuckers cared. It was all about the sale or keeping them and training them to commit crimes the adults couldn’t pull off.

They were in for a rude awakening. Cifer was on-station, and they weren’t going to make money on that shipment.

The only downside of having to take paying contracts was being away from the station.

He had an older crew of former orphans who worked around the various sectors of Cassan and could fill in for him, and frequently had to, but there was nothing he liked more than seeing the stolen kids returned to their families.

He rushed after Elaya so that maybe he would be in time to get the kids. And maybe he could make it back before Blaize woke up.

Instead of a ship, as Cifer expected, Elaya stopped in front of the Rusty Bucket. A dive bar for space crews. He scowled as he stepped through the door.

“It’s that guy. In the corner.” Elaya pointed to a table in the far back.

Cifer should have known a Gordinian cum-stain was involved. He’d suspected as such, based on the descriptions from the previous kids who’d been saved. If he were a more violent being, he’d stab that fool through his black heart this very minute.

Cifer glanced around the bar. Elaya had slipped away. Smart girl.

He clacked his jaw at the gelatinous, hairy fuck as he passed on his way to the restroom.

Better not to shift his appearance in public too often, and he had no idea how many eyes were on him.

Elaya was occasionally useful, but she delved into the dark allies of the station far too much to be fully trusted.

Once he’d adopted the persona he’d use to negotiate with child slaver scum, he slipped back into the bar, taller, leaner and the muted shade of forest fungus. He stopped in front of the table. “Elaya sent me.”

The Gordinian kicked out a chair. “Have a seat.”

Cifer crossed his arms. “I was told you have merchandise.”

“You’re not the only interested party.”

“Why would you think I’m interested when I haven’t seen the goods?”

The Gordinian laughed, and a belch of noxious gas wafted over to Cifer. “You’ll see them soon enough.”

“Soon enough would be now.” Cifer made sure his voice clicked in the way of the species he mimicked.

“First, we have a drink.”

If he did that, there’d be no way to return to Blaize before she realized he was gone.

Cifer pulled out his data pad and sent a message to his most loyal operative.

A kid who’d gone through the system and was as passionate about saving the young ones as Cifer.

“This isn’t a social event. I don’t have time to sit around drinking with you.

Either you have the goods, or you don’t. ”

The Gordinian checked his data pad, not realizing the screen was reflected in the dirty mirror behind him.

He tapped out a message. Not every word of the message was clear, but the recipient might as well have been lit up.

Varik Pectori. Cifer took a calming breath.

Their little game had become exponentially more interesting.

That was the captain who’d abandoned him on Kolben. The one who had attacked The Treasure . Blaize would absolutely understand why he had to leave.

“Change of plans.”

Cifer glared at the evil fuck.

“The other buyer is temporarily delayed.”

“I’m not interested in playing games. I’m here now. The other buyer obviously isn’t as invested as I am. Show me the merchandise.” Despite Varik’s involvement, Cifer’s main concern was the kids’ welfare.

“That’s not how this works.” The kidnapper named a time. “Meet back here.”

The kids would be stuck in the cage for another cycle if his connections couldn’t find the ship first. Elaya had been very specific.

“I’ll give you one more chance.” Cifer had to stay in the dominant position for the negotiation.

“Either we resolve this business, or I’ll find another supplier.

It’s not like you’re the only procurer of live goods. ”

He stood slowly, like he had all the time in the world, and left the noisy bar.

Cifer raced home. The word never applied before Blaize had been there.

He made it back as fast as he could. The sheets were messy.

He flipped them straight and found her abandoned panties, but she was gone.

He wasn’t surprised. Disappointed, but it was a minor setback for a very good reason.

First, he had to make sure the kids were safe.

Then he’d find his beauty and make amends.

Even if she was angry, he had the whole trip to Hiargus to make it up to her.

A text came in on his pad.

No XA-141 in standard docks. Still checking auxiliary.

No surprise. Shady shit didn’t happen at the main docks, but it was prudent to verify. He considered his options, and like a lightning strike, an idea came to him. A devil of a plan. If it came together.

“Cifer calling for Master.” He nearly choked on the last word. But the minion answering the call would expect proper protocol, and he couldn’t afford not to be received.

Time passed in silence. The man who demanded the title of Master might still be mad that Cifer had managed to escape.

Master loved to play games of risk. Cifer had studied him for years before negotiating to win his freedom.

It hadn’t been a foolproof plan, but it had worked.

No matter how much he hated the male for stealing him from his home, his influence was a useful tool on rare occasions.

And once Master had abandoned the flesh trade for more lucrative endeavors, Cifer had reinitiated a basic connection. He hoped it wasn’t broken.

Finally, background noise filled the connection.

“Cifer, my son. It has been too long since you called. Have you been well?”

The words made Cifer’s stomach curdle. Master was no father figure.

“My apologies for being out of touch.” He could have said more—made excuses about being on Kolben—but that would lead to more questions he didn’t want to answer. Cifer went silent and waited. The minute of silence extended into an eternity. Another test. Eventually, he was rewarded.

“What’s on your mind?” The male’s voice was resigned, just like when Cifer had won his freedom.

“Varik Pectori. I recall he owed you a debt.” It was a risk. Cifer had only heard rumors. But if Varik was indebted to Master in any way, then Cifer’s plan might work. His blood raced as if he were running for his life.

“Why would you care?” The irritation in Master’s voice barely covered his suspicion.

Cifer squelched his glee. “He has a meet set for twenty-one hundred. Apparently, he’s dipping his toe in the flesh trade.”

A growl filled the line before Master asked, “How is this my concern?”

“He’s meeting the trader at the Rusty Bucket. Didn’t know you allowed others to do business out of there.” And the hook was set.

After a telltale pause, Master found his voice again. “Why inform me?”

“Varik broke a contract I prepaid.” Cifer had written off the fees he’d paid Varik, but Master would believe money prompted his call. And Cifer had already set the pieces on the board by confirming Varik owed Master. Cifer’s debt would transfer, too, in the old pirate’s mind.

“Hmm. We should meet with Varik. You and I. Resolve this.” If Varik could hear Master’s voice right now, he’d piss himself.

“I’ll be at the Rusty Bucket.” He hung up without saying goodbye.

The call had gone better than expected. Not only would Varik be in a world of hurt, unable to negotiate his contract with the buyer, but the goods would be long gone when he shook himself loose of Master for the evening.

And Cifer might get his money back. He’d need to play it cool so that Varik didn’t suspect him of freeing the kids.

Blaize startled awake with Cifer’s name on her lips. The drab walls of her quarters were a stark reminder that she wasn’t in his bedroom as she’d dreamed. Irritated, she dressed in a fresh set of coveralls and stomped down the corridor to find her fellow crew members in the galley.

“Blaize.” Veda smiled, a cup of tea in her hand.

“Are Dez and Cyra here?”

“Captain had some business to take care of. Dez wouldn’t let her go alone. They took Princess with them.” Rhysa inspected Blaize with narrowed pink-eyed.

“Do you know when they’ll be back?” Blaize addressed Veda, hoping Rhysa would let her be.

Veda shrugged. “I made first meal. There’s plenty, if you’re hungry.”

It would be awful, but she was starving. “Sure. Thanks, Veda.”

Veda scooped a chunky, liquidy brown gruel into the bowl and placed it in front Blaize.

The others already had theirs, but she waited for Veda to join them before they ate.

The first bite confirmed that it was as disgusting as it looked, but she was hungry, so she took another bite and quickly swallowed.

“Where were you last night?” Rhysa asked with a teasing tone. “We missed you at dinner.”

“Based on the fact that your face is as red as your hair, I’d say you had fun,” Bodi added, teaming up with Rhysa at the worst time.

Blaize filled her mouth with glop. She didn’t want to, but chewing would give her a valid excuse not to respond.

“It’s none of our business.” Veda sounded sad.

Was Veda attracted to Cifer? Had she hurt her friend?

She would find out, but not in front of everyone.

Even if Veda was attracted to Cifer, he wasn’t a good male.

He’d told her so when he thought she was sleeping.

Blaize wasn’t sure she believed him, but she would make sure the Veda understood she wasn’t missing out on anything worthwhile—besides the best sex of Blaize’s life.

“I had some errands to take care of that took me longer than expected. I…I stayed with a friend.”

“A male friend?” Rhysa wasn’t going to let this go, so Blaize did something she hated. She lied.

“Nope.” She dropped her spoon in her empty bowl. She patted Veda’s shoulder before she placed her bowl in the sterilizer. “Thanks for cooking.” She couldn’t bring herself to tell Veda it was good. One lie was enough.

“No problem.” Veda reached out and grabbed her hand as she was leaving. “Can you help me?”

“Of course. What’s wrong?”

“Well, I think I broke the lighting system. Nothing will turn on.”

“I’ll take a look now.” Blaize was relieved to have something to focus on besides the mystery of Cifer and the attack from Varik. A technical problem to solve was exactly what she needed. She could have kissed Veda.

“You’re not mad?” Veda was back to her bright, cheerful self. So, she wasn’t interested in Cifer… She was worried Blaize would be angry about the lights.

Blaize laughed. “These systems are fragile, and not every ship has a grow room. Bound to be some technical issues. I’m surprised it’s done so well. I mean, I put it together so it would last, but you know. It’s a work in progress.”

“Thanks,” Veda called out behind Blaize.

She thumped down the hallway toward her beloved engineering systems that didn’t run off, didn’t claim to be bad, and didn’t leave her aching with emptiness. Engineering systems were her first and last love. Cifer was just a blip.